Harnick Kang on How Soccer Educates Working Professionals

Participating in sports is one mankind’s oldest pastimes. Regular athletic activity is a cornerstone of a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, many professionals who work full-time forget the importance of regular athletic activity. Instead, they replace it with long hours at the office and deadline-oriented jobs. This decision can prove detrimental to not only their physical health, but also their mental acuity and job performance.
So, how exactly does a sport like soccer help people hone transferable skills that can be applied in their jobs? Moreover, how does an extremely busy person find a way to maintain a decent work-life balance and still include time to regularly participate in sports?

Team-Based Environment

Even those unfamiliar with soccer know that it is not an individual sport. There are two teams and a total of 22 players on the field at any given time, each with an important role to play. Thus, there is a group of people working together towards a shared goal. So, one of the primary benefits of soccer is the development of teamwork and the ability to work together as a unit.

Soccer revolves around harmony and every player must fulfill their role correctly. Should they fail to do so, the opponent will claim victory. In real life, most occupations are based on working closely with others. In a similar fashion, large companies are divided into departments, every department has multiple sections, and each section comes with a few employees. Those workers are only as productive as their weakest link, meaning, the importance of a fluent team in soccer is just as crucial as it is in daily lives of busy professionals.

Underlying Goal and Dedication
According to Harnick Kang, a property developer from the United Kingdom where soccer is a way of life, soccer is about more than just one game. It’s a long-term dedication toward a higher objective. Be it a tournament, season ranking, or championship title, the entire team has their eyes set on a long-term goal. Similarly, life comes with a plethora of goals that cannot be completed immediately and it’s important to learn patience.

Harnick Kang

For example, Harnek Kang began his career on a project-by-project basis. Yet, in order to achieve his career goals, he has had to successfully complete many more projects and establish long-distance connections. So, every soccer game can basically represent one of the projects that Harnick Kang undertakes. In the long-run, each particular task does not carry too much weight, but when taken collectively, all of those games/projects dictate if he will achieve success.

Strategizing

The next positive outcome of soccer is related to strategy. Even though it is a sport based on physicality like running and outscoring the other team, it is also a mental game. Teams must come up with a proper strategy and player organization in order to dominate the field. Sometimes, a solid strategy can beat strength and endurance and soccer is a great arena to see this play out.

As Harnek Kang further notices, this notion is well paralleled by the “work smart, not hard” doctrine. Busy professionals are often praised when they invent solutions that save time. These are derived from well-drafted strategies and meticulous preparation. Meaning, strategizing for a soccer game could set a precedent and teach people about the importance of thorough planning.

Building on Failures

Of course, every soccer game produces a loser. After all, unless the final score is a tie, somebody will have to bear the burden of a loss. When that happens, it causes teams to reevaluate their strategies and on-field performance. More importantly, it emphasizes the importance of accepting defeat and overcoming adversity.

For those working in volatile industries, knowing how to accept a loss is quite important. Consider, for instance, a trader who deals with short-term stock transactions. Unless they are prepared to accept a downfall in the market, they will be unable to achieve long-term success. Venture capitalists face a similar challenge, and often learn early on that a failure is not an ending, but rather an opportunity to learn and turn a profit moving forward.

Taking a Break

Ultimately, soccer can be important as nothing more than a platform to distract one from their everyday lives. People who work north of 60 hours a week often experience diminishing returns, meaning, they are unable to upkeep the necessary level of focus. This is where a hobby can come in handy and soccer is definitely a great one!

About The Author

Adrian Rubin is a freelancer, creative arts director for various marketing and advertising companies in the New York area. Adrian Rubin specializes in making memorable campaigns. You can learn more about his services here: AdrianRubin.net